WHAT ARE INSTRUMENTAL VALUES? (WITH EXAMPLES) - CULTURE VOCABULARY

The instrumental values are those forms of specific action that a person uses in a given time to achieve a desired goal. They allow satisfying human needs and are socially accepted circumstantial behaviors.

In the early 1970s, social psychologist Milton Rokeach determined that people reason differently when considering what they should do and what they can do, and created a survey of values named after him.

Rokeach deduced that when people think of ends they adopt the criterion of intrinsic value (that is, their permanent values), but when they think of means to achieve an objective they apply instrumental value as criterion.

Examples

Values represent ways of thinking and acting on the personal and social level, and guide people's behavior on the good and the bad, the desirable and the undesirable.

Taking into account the values established in the Rokeach survey, the following examples are given.

They are instrumental values that are used to access terminal values, which are the goals that a person wants to achieve.

Job

Being a worker is an instrumental value that can be had to have access to terminal values such as professional success.

Perseverance

Being persistent can be taken to access terminal value like reaching high goals.

Sympathy

Being nice can help you have lots of friends.

Excellence

Excellence can help you be more successful both personally and professionally.

Broad mind

In certain fields of life you can have an open mind. For example, in sex, when it comes to relating to other people, but not when it comes to our own children or relatives.

More competent when there is motivation

When a person likes what they do or needs to get a job or job promotion, they act in the most efficient way possible to achieve that goal and become more competitive than other workers who aspire to the same position.

Show of affection

Many times people are very dry showing affection to others.

For example, a father may be unloving to his children, but with grandchildren he becomes a very loving person who allows behaviors that he used to reproach his own children for. This value indicates that you are not affectionate with all people or in all circumstances.

Cleaning

Some people are likely to be neat and clean in certain places because of established standards of behavior, because if they are dirty or untidy they would not be able to access or stay on the site.

Courage

A person considered a coward could at some point react in a courageous way in defense of his political, religious or moral principles, or act with courage and determination based on his economic or family interests.

Show love

When it comes to conquering a girl or a boy, some try to be nice and become loving and nice people, although this is not a permanent behavior.

Forgive others

To resolve a family or business dispute, people must turn the page based on their best interests: they must forgive others who have hurt or attacked them.

Helpful

It is likely that a person has not always been helpful, especially at home, but when living with other people this behavior is modified in return or payment for the service provided.

Themes of interest

Types of securities.

Human values.

Antivalues.

Universal values.

Sociocultural values.

Moral values.

Spiritual values.

Aesthetic values.

Material values.

Intellectual values.

Political values.

Cultural values.

Hierarchy of values.

Priority values.

Personal values.

Transcendental values.

Objective values.

Vital values.

Ethical values.